Pete was born in Rock Springs and raised in Pinedale. One of ten children and a lifelong resident of Wyoming, Pete learned the value of hard work at an early age. He graduated from Pinedale High School in 1986, enrolled at the University of Wyoming with a full academic scholarship and began his UW football career as a non-scholarship player. After being a “walk-on” for two years, Pete earned an athletic scholarship and finished his playing career with four varsity letters. Pete was named to the Second Team All-WAC Defensive Team in 1990 and was twice named to the All-WAC Academic First Team. Pete graduated from Wyoming in the fall of 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education.